Officials: Former Lake County Fair official found shot to death

Sacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune

Members of the sonar team search for evidence in the Des Plaines River close to the home of Harry Dahms on Wednesday. Dahms was shot to death last Friday. Investigators are still collecting evidence and speaking with residents about the murder.

Members of the sonar team search for evidence in the Des Plaines River close to the home of Harry Dahms on Wednesday. Dahms was shot to death last Friday. Investigators are still collecting evidence and speaking with residents about the murder. (Sacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune)

Ruth FullerSpecial to the Tribune

A former Lake County Fair director was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the driveway of his home in unincorporated Lake County Friday morning, officials announced Monday.

Harry Dahms, 68, of the 14000 block of Russell Road, was the victim of an apparent homicide, according to a press release from the Lake County Sherriff’s Department.

The Lake County sheriff’s department said it is seeking the public’s help with any information that might help its investigation.

Dahms was last seen at his residence – in an unincorporated area called Russell near the Wisconsin line -- at about 10:10 p.m. Thursday. He was wearing a dark shirt, khaki colored shorts and tan work boots, according to the police release, which describes Dahms as 6 feet tall and heavyset.

His body was discovered by police at about 8:30 a.m. Friday, with a “penetrating gunshot wound to the head,” Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey said.

According to the press release, Dahms was known to frequent Truck Stops of America and Toors Trucks Stop, both businesses located just west of the Tollway on Russell Road. He also was known to frequently go to the BP gas station, 8611 Sheridan Road in Kenosha.

Dahms has also been a member of the Lakeshore Harley Owners Group in Waukegan, according to a 1995 Tribune article.

Sheriff Mark Curran said he worked with Dahms in his capacity as a member of the Lake County Fair Board and is “saddened by his death.”

No one was in custody as of Monday afternoon, Sgt. Karen Kates said. Kates said she had no further information about suspects or why Dahms would be targeted.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division at 847-377-4250.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered by Lake County Crime Stoppers.